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Negredo rejected Everton switch

Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo admits he could have joined Everton last January, but never seriously considered the possibility.

The Spain international made the switch to the Etihad Stadium in the close-season in a reported £16.4million deal from La Liga outfit Sevilla and has been an instant hit with supporters with 18 goals in all competitions.

Negredo could have been playing in the Premier League sooner, with David Moyes - then manager of Everton - keen to take him to Goodison Park 12 months ago.

But the 28-year-old was happy to bide his time before making the move to England.

"There were some rumours about a move to Everton but I just wanted to finish the season with Sevilla," he said.

"I wanted to wait until it got to the summer before I started looking at other options. I never really considered the possibility of moving in January."

Negredo's impressive form continued with a hat-trick in City's 6-0 hammering of West Ham in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday. He is now one goal adrift of Sergio Aguero in the race to be the club's top goalscorer.

The Argentina international has been absent in recent weeks with a calf injury and Negredo realises it will be difficult to outscore the former Atletico Madrid man.

He added: "I need to get more and catch him up because I know when he comes back he will score more goals."